Salvage-Pukuk Allrani suu’ut caqainek pukugtaartut. – Sometimes people salvage some stuff. Pukuk is an Alutiiq word that has made its way into English conversation in the Kodiak area, like the Yiddish word schlep or the French word café. There is no exact English translation. Generally speaking, this Alutiiq verb means to salvage, although its more nuanced […]
Laugh — Englarluni Humor is an important form of communication. It relieves tension, helps people express their frustrations, and builds friendships. Alaska’s Native societies are well known for their frequent laughter and abundant humor. From Alaska to Greenland, scolding, fighting, and displays of anger or aggression are considered extremely inappropriate, and difficult social situations are […]
Loon Uyaqurtulit ikegtaartut. – There’s not many loons. Alaska is home to all five of the world’s species of loons (Gavia spp.). Three of these species—the common loon, the red-throated loon, and the Pacific loon—are frequent visitors to Kodiak. This can make it difficult to differentiate between types of loons. Although each species has distinctive plumage […]
Alaska– Alas’kaaq Guangkuta Alas’kaarmiu’at. – We are all Alaskans. Unangam Tunuu, the Native language of the Aleutian Island chain, is the source of the name Alaska. In Unangam Tunuu, Alax̂sxix̂ essentially means “great land” or “mainland.” Before western conquest, Aleutian Islanders used this word to refer to the western end of the Alaska Peninsula. From their […]